Interest

Russia's central bank unexpectedly raised its main interest rate by a half point to 8.0 percent on Friday, warning that geopolitical tensions were increasing inflationary risks.
      

By Marius Zaharia

Greek yields dipped on Thursday as the aid recipient readied an issue of three-year bonds in its second debt sale since its default, taking advantage of a European Central Bank promise to make long-term loans to banks.

By Evgenia Tzortzi

The newly formed Institution for Growth in Greece (IfG) development fund is next week set to sign contracts up to the amount of 200 million euros with three of the country’s four systemic lenders to begin refinancing loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Sources say that these banks are National, Eurobank and Piraeus.

 Finance Ministry will likely issue a three-year bond, hoping for an interest rate that will not exceed 3 pct

By Sotiris Nikas

By Sotiris Nikas

The remarkable decline in the interest rate of Greek bonds, particularly that of the recently issued five-year paper that has even dropped below 4 percent, is feeding rumors among investors that Athens is contemplating a new bond.

Slight lending rates growth both on a monthly and on an annual basis in almost all segments was recorded by Bulgaria's National Bank in May, 2014.

The total loan portfolio of businesses and households increased by BGN 77.8M (0.14%) in May, and the increase on an annual basis is by BGN 982.8M (1.84%), Capital Daily reports.

Turkey’s Central Bank could review interest rates as soon as this month if it is convinced that the outlook for inflation is improving significantly, Governor Erdem Başçı has said.

He said that economic growth was on track and that Turkey’s current account deficit - its main economic weakness - would narrow “swiftly” this year as the economy keeps rebalancing.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Wednesday announced that the Government has on its agenda an ordinance supporting rescheduling of loans taken out by employed or retired individuals.

The Turkish prime minister’s harsh criticism of the Central Bank has rattled markets as investors have priced in concerns that pressure on the bank will continue.

Bulgarian banks continue to lower interest rates on savings products and to improve, mainly through new promotions, the consumer loans and credit cards conditions.

According to an analysis of MoitePari.bg for April 2014, there has been an improvement in the conditions for housing and mortgage loans, as banks mainly focus on cutting back fees, Bulgaria's National Radio informs.